Some of Australia's fastest-growing trees for quick privacy or shade include native options like Lilly Pilly (Waterhousia floribunda), Bottlebrush (Callistemon), and Lemon-Scented Gum (Corymbia citriodora), alongside popular introduced species such as Claret Ash, Jacaranda, Magnolia, and Weeping Willow, all offering rapid height and foliage for instant impact in gardens.
Top 4 Fastest Growing Trees for Your Home
For blocking neighbors, the best trees are fast-growing evergreens like Arborvitae (especially 'Green Giant' & 'Emerald Green'), Leyland Cypress, and Italian Cypress, offering dense, year-round foliage for quick, effective privacy screens, though consider alternatives like Holly, Bamboo, or Ficus for variety, noise reduction, or smaller spaces, always checking local climate suitability.
For driveways in Australia, the best trees offer narrow, upright growth (like Pencil Pines, Ginkgo biloba 'Lemonlime Spire', or Lilly Pilly) for tight spaces, seasonal colour (Ornamental Pears, Maples, Crepe Myrtles) for a grand entrance, or native options (Waterhousia, Hakea, Agonis) for local appeal, focusing on non-invasive roots and low maintenance for a beautiful, lasting impression.
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Spinach. Spinach is a versatile and fast-growing green that can be harvested in as little as 20-30 days. It thrives in cooler temperatures and prefers partial shade. Sow the spinach seeds directly in the soil, and keep the soil moist for the best results.
Low Maintenance Trees That Are Perfect for Homeowners
For excellent neighbour screening, choose fast-growing, dense plants like Bamboo (clumping varieties only), Lilly Pilly (Syzygium), Photinia (Red Robin), and Pittosporum (Silver Sheen), which offer quick height, year-round coverage, and attractive foliage or flowers, with options like Magnolias and Viburnums also providing lush privacy. Always select clumping bamboo to prevent spread and consider mature height and sunlight needs for your spot.
Poplars are fast growers. Their roots need moisture and will invade any leaky pipe they can find. Depending on the variety, they can grow 50 to 150 feet tall but are brittle and tend to drop limbs and branches. Never plant them near your house.
Cauliflower, broccoli, kale, chives, garlic, leeks, onions, peppers, beets or any member or the onion family. Friendly garden neighbors: Carrots, celery, chard, corn, cucumber, eggplant, parsnip, peas, potatoes, radish, and strawberries.
Fast-Growing Privacy Trees to the Rescue
Although fences and brick walls can do the trick, adding an extra divider, screen or plant barrier can block your neighbor's two-story view for good.
Red Maple. Red maple (Acer rubrum) tolerates a wide range of soils, making it easy to grow in various landscapes. Its vibrant red leaves and small red flowers offer beautiful color throughout fall and winter, says Abdi.
Elder, with its fragrant flowers and black berries, was said to reveal witches. The wild growing St John's wort, also called perforate St John's wort, was believed to drive away both witches and evil spirits. Rowan was thought to protect against all kinds of supernatural creatures.
An ideal and popular choice for those seeking a screening plant for that extra privacy. Acmena smithii 'Goodbye Neighbours' is commonly known as the Lilly Pilly and has dense green and bronze foliage that will produce small white flowers throughout the year.
'You do have a right to block your neighbour's view into your garden within reason, but you will need to break up their view with visual barriers and be cautious to not block the view too close to their windows or anywhere that could affect their enjoyment of their property,' advises Graham.
Trees That Won't Damage Foundations
For the fastest growing privacy trees, consider evergreens like Leyland Cypress (Cupressus 'Better Green'), Ficus Hillii 'Flash', and native Lilly Pilly (Syzygium), which offer dense, year-round screening, growing around a meter per year to establish a solid barrier quickly for excellent seclusion.
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Commonly known as the Money plant, Pothos is one of the fastest-growing creeper plants in India. You can grow Pothos from just one leaf. Take a leaf with a node and put it in water. You will see roots growing out of the node in less than a week.
Alfalfa, clover, lentils, mung beans, pea shoots and sunflower seeds are often sprouted this way too. Mary's Heirloom Seeds sells sprouting seeds here. Growing microgreens is similar. Microgreens are also grown in soil, but are harvested in about 3-4 weeks.
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